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Duterte signs Balik Scientist law

'This law will address the lack of scientists in the country, so we can catch up with our Asian neighbors, which has more people working for research and development,' says Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, author of the measure

(This law will address the lack of scientists in the country, so we can catch up with our Asian neighbors, which has more people working for research and development.)

During the Senate hearings, it was discovered that the country has only 189 scientists per million, when the ideal ratio is 380 scientists per million.

Aquino pointed out that the Philippines trails South Korea and the United States, which have 5,300 and 3,500 scientists per million, respectively. Malaysia, for its part, has 2,000 scientists per million. (READ: 5 things to make PH a better place for scientists)

Key provisions

Under the law, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) will be the main implementing agency.

According to the DOST, a returning scientist can enjoy various forms of compensation, such as:

tax and duty exemptions in the importation of professional equipment and materials

free medical and accident insurance covering the award period

reimbursement of expenses for baggage related to scientific projects

exemption from "renouncing their oath of allegiance to the country where they took the oath"

participation in the DOST's Grants-in-Aid research and development

special working and non-working visas and DOST-subsidized visa application

round-trip airfare from a foreign country to the Philippines

exemption from local travel tax

They can also avail of relocation benefits, such as support in securing job opportunities for the spouse and in admitting children into preferred schools, monthly housing or accommodation allowance, and funding for the establishment and development of a facility or laboratory.

The Balik Scientist program under the DOST was first established in 1975 through Presidential Decree No. 819 under the administration of former president Ferdinand Marcos. But it was only implemented until 1986.

Former president Fidel Ramos revived the program in 1993 and put it under the DOST through Executive Order No. 130.

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